NTSB Subpoenas American Crew Involved in Near-Collision at JFK

The subpoenas were issued after the crew refused to proceed with a recorded interview with NTSB investigators.

Amelia Walsh

Monday, February 13, 2023 at 12:26 PM ET

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JFK International Airport [Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The NTSB subpoenaed three American Airlines pilots involved in a near-catastrophic runway incursion at JFK Airport after they refused to provide recorded interviews, with their union (APA) backing their refusal due to concerns about the impact of recordings on witness candor and the investigative process.
The January 13 incident involved an American Airlines Boeing 777 crossing an active runway without clearance, forcing a Delta Boeing 737 to abort its takeoff and narrowly averting disaster within 1,400 feet.
Cockpit voice recorders (CVRs) from both aircraft were overwritten due to their limited two-hour recording loops, prompting the NTSB to recommend that the FAA mandate CVRs with a minimum 25-hour recording capability on both new and existing aircraft.

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On Friday, the National Transportation Safety Board subpoenaed three American Airlines pilots involved in last month’s near-catastrophic runway incursion at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (KJFK).

The January 13 incident swept headlines across the country when the American Airlines Boeing 777 crossed an active runway without clearance from air traffic control, causing a Delta Boeing 737 to abort its takeoff. The two aircraft narrowly averted disaster—coming within 1,400 feet of each other (slightly more than what was previously reported).